BAIKAL UNDER ICE

In 2021, the Government of the Irkutsk Region signed a cooperation agreement with the Freediving Federation — fittingly, in the very year our region celebrated the Year of Baikal. I’ve met Alexey Molchanov in person, and his records truly impressed me. There’s something superhuman about them! I was glad to hear Alexey say back then that he wanted to dedicate his new record to Baikal — a truly unique place that we must preserve for future generations.

Protecting Baikal is our shared goal. Events like those organized by the Freediving Federation draw attention to the lake and highlight its significance — and its extraordinary purity.

For our part, we have always supported — and will continue to support — initiatives that encourage people in our region to take up sport and physical activity. And who knows: for someone out there, freediving may become that very dream and inspiration.

I absolutely loved this competition — funny enough, it was my first depth event ever, and it happened to be under ice! The base was cozy, we all stayed close together, the food was delicious, and the evenings were never boring — we had lectures to enjoy.

Thank you for such a wonderful first experience!

My first competition — in fact, my first ice diving experience ever — and one I want to repeat again and again. There’s nothing else like this festival anywhere in the world: you can try diving under the ice, skate across frozen Baikal, explore ice caves, compete in freediving, watch world records being set, hear talks from the world’s top freedivers — and, of course, fall in love with Baikal in winter.

When I tell people I’ve dived under ice, everyone assumes it must be freezing. Truth is, winter diving in the Mediterranean is much colder.

What an incredible experience — and honestly, everything about this adventure was incredible, it’s hard to say what impressed me most: majestic Baikal itself, the brilliantly organized competition, the people, or the chance to test myself in such extreme water temperatures side by side with absolute giants of freediving.

I’m endlessly grateful to the organizers — especially Lidia Drobysh and Evgenia Boyarskaya — for letting me jump on board at the very last minute and be part of this winter celebration. It was my first depth competition ever, and I couldn’t have dreamed I’d end up on the podium next to Klovar and Maričić. I’m writing this from Dahab, where it’s +40°C — and dreaming about Under the Ice of Baikal 2027

For me, extreme environment, and remote places have always been appealing. Lake Baikal in the winter seems like another world like another planet. You would think there is nothing just endless ice and white, but there is so much going on so many different types of ice and it’s truly a unique festival. I’ve traveled more than 110 countries and this place is really unique.

Diving in such conditions in a safe and organized way I’m not sure it’s possible anywhere else in the world. This is the only competition that you can experience this way. For me, it’s always great to challenge myself in a new conditions, and I believe this type of exposure can only help freediving skill in general especially the equalization part.

Also, one of the most important parts for me is the people the comfort and the food and I love it all in Siberia. On top of that there is a world class training facility nearby so being here doesn’t mean I cannot be in top shape on the contrary.

I first thought of this as a once in a lifetime experience but now I’m hoping to be back many times.

A festival on the world’s most beautiful lake — stunning footage and unforgettable memories guaranteed! Harsh conditions, warm people. Come dive, set records, and soak up the atmosphere!

Pure joy, serenity, and the magic of the moment — that’s what this festival is all about.

Freediving under ice is a breathtaking experience that makes you fall in love once and for all. You glide slowly beneath the ice, studying its cracks and the rays of sunlight, listening to the ice sing, gazing into the abyss of the world’s deepest lake… The grandeur, the power, the vastness! Then you dive down — through scattered shards of ice at the surface — into cosmic darkness and weightlessness. Moments of absolute stillness. You realize all of this is happening to you, an ordinary, fragile human being, and you feel endless gratitude for the chance to see and feel the world this way.

You climb out of the water, and in the next ice hole, the world’s top freedivers are setting new records. And all of it with serious safety measures — and comfort! Wow. As for the cold and icy water — that’s just a question of gear, and the organizers solve it quickly and professionally.

This festival gives you experiences you simply can’t find anywhere else — the kind you keep coming back for.